Cosmetic container



Nov. 11, 1952 cog 2,617,522

COSMETIC CONTAINER Filed June 11, 1946 2 SHEETSSHEET l I 1 m E 2 q 11 1 5 -1 17 /i 14* r? 10 59 l I 5 1 21 M 22 l HTTOR/VEYS.

Nov. 11, 1952 H. A. cos 4 2,617,522

COSMETIC CONTAINER Filed June 11, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 f/rbri f7. foe

BY W4 9* Patented Nov. 11, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,617,522 7 V COSMETIC CONTAINER Herbert A. Coe, Port Washington, N. Y. Application June 11, 1946, Serial No. 676,001

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to containers suitable for cosmetic stick materials such as lipsticks and the like, and aims to provide certain improvements therein. More particularly it relates to a container comprising a casing having an opening at one end and a carrier for lipstick or like material within the casing movable toward or away from said opening to project or retract the lipstick or like material therefrom. The invention also relates to lipstick or like containers having a cover which opens automatically when the material is fed out of the container and which closes automatically whenthematerial is .retracted.

A criticism of some prior types of cosmetic stick containers having automatic covers was that the covers did not move completely out of the line of movement of the cosmetic as it was projected from the container, with the result that the exterior of the cover became smeared with cosmetic, or the latter was damaged or deformed by'the cover. In'an attempt to avoid this criticism it has heretofore been proposed to enlarge the head of the container to provide adequate clearance for the ,cover when pivoted to opened position, but this, in turn, detracted from the symmetrical appearance of the container, and made it unnecessarily large and cumbersome.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container for cosmetic sticks and the like having a cover adapted to open automatically when the cosmetic stick is propelled therefrom and adapted to close automatically when the cosmetic stick is retractedthe cover preferably being mounted within the container and adapted to move completely out of the line of movement of the cosmetic stick to avoid engagement therewith when in fully opened position,.and capable of being conveniently housed within'the 'container in both opened and closed positions without providing an enlarged head for the container orotherwise destroying its symmetry;

A second object of the invention is to provide novel operating means for the cover .to open the same automatically when the cosmetic is moved toward the open end of the container, and to close the same automatically when the cos- 'metic is retracted therewithin'.

A third-object oif the invention is to provide a' container for cosmetic sticks and the like having a single manually operable means for propelling the cosmetic stick from the container and for releasably holding the same in progressively advanced or projecting positions, and adapted, upon release, to retract the cosmetic stick automatically within the container.

It is also an object of the present invention vto provide a container of the last-mentioned type having a cover adapted to open automatically when the cosmetic stick is fed outwardly from the container and to close automatically when the same is retracted within the container.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention are attained by providing a container having a casing or shell open at one end, a carrier for material within the casing movable toward and away from said opening, and a movable cover for said opening preferably composed of two arcuate members or plates pivotally mounted within the container and adapted for both pivotal movement and lateral displacement during opening thereof in order to move the cover to fully opened position-such pivotal movement and lateral displacement preferably being accomplished by means of elongated radial slots formed in depending arms for said cover members which engage fixed pivot studs within the casing and provide for both relative rotational and longitudinal movement. With this construction, the eiiective radii of the cover members increase progressively as they are moved from fully closed to fully opened positions; and conversely, progressively decrease as they are moved from fully opened to fully closed positions. The invention also provides novel cover operating means for automatically opening the cover when the material carrier is advanced in the container toward said open end, and for automatically closing the cover during the final retraction movement of the carrier, said cover operating means preferably comprising crank extensions for said depending cover arms connected to longitudinally movable links, said links preferably adapted for limited engagement by said carried and for limited longitudinal movement therewith during the initial advance and final retraction of said carrier, whereby said cranks are turned respectively to open and close the cover members.

' The invention also provides a single means adapted for movement manually in one direction for advancing the carrier within the casing toward said open end, said means preferably comprising a pin on the carrier extending through a longitudinal slot in the casing and provided with an external finger piece for manually moving the pin along said slot, means for releasably holding the carrier in advanced positions preferably comprising ratchet teeth along one lateral edge of said slot for engagement by the carrier pin and having resilient means urging said carrier pin into engagement with said teeth, the said single manual means preferably also adapted for limited movement in a second directionsuch as laterally in the lingitudinal slot-for disengaging said holding means, and means for automatically retracting said carrier within the container upon release of the holding means, said last-mentioned means preferably comprising a spring yieldably resisting advancement of the carrier within the container and for automatically returning the carrier to the base of the container upon disen gagement of the holding means, and means for maintaining the carrier out of engagement with the holding means until the carrier is fully retracted preferably comprising a longitudinal camming rib on the casingadjacent the other edge of said slot and a follower on the"finger piece engageable over said rib upon lateral displacement of the finger piece in the slot.

In the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention- Figure l is a front elevation of the container.

Fig. 2 is a front elevationof the container with the outer casing shown in section in order to re' veal underlying structure.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the container with the outer casing shown in section in order to reveal underlying structure;

Fig. 4 is atop plan view of the container shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of :the inner tubular member, with certainpartsremoved, and showing the material carrier inan advanced position ready for automatic retraction.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view'taken on the line 3.-6 in Fig. 5 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. '7 isa sectional view taken on the line 'I'-'l in Fig. 3 and viewed in 'the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is a sectional-view taken on the line 8-3 in Fig. 3.

Figs. 9, l and 11 are enlarged sideelevational views of the arcuate cover plates and :one ofthe pivoting studs therefor, showing respectively'the relative positions of the parts in closed, partially opened and fully opened positions.

Fig.12 is a view similar to Fig. showing, the carrier held in an intermediate, advanced position.

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the carrier and associated parts.

Fig. 14 is a sectionalview taken on the line i l-l4 in Fig. 2, and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Referring tothe. drawings, a container indicated generally at In comprises an outer shell or casing Hopen at its upper end l2 and having an inwardly directed annular flange l3 defining such opening. The lower end of the casing H is suitablyclo'sed by a bottom plate l5 having an upstanding annular flange suitably fastened to the casing. A longitudinal slot I1 is provided in the outer casing which accommodates a portion 23a of an ofiset pin projecting therethrough and secured to a finger piece 2! provided exterior- 4 ly of the casing and manually movable along said slot.

Positioned within the casing ll is a tubular member 22 having a base 23 provided with a pin rality of lugs 24 permanently secured in notches formed in the lower end of the casing and secur ing the tubular member and casing in assembled relation. The tubular member is also provided with a plurality of spacing lugs 21 which engage the inner walls of the casing H and space the tubular member 22 therefrom. The tubular member 22 is also provided with a longitudinal slot 29 which preferably is in partial registry with the slot H in the outer casing. A longitudinal rib 25 on the tubular member partially overlies the slot H in the outer casing. A cosmetic carrier 33, preferably in tubular form having an upper cup-like portion adapted to hold a pencil type of cosmetic, is mounted within the tubular member 22 for longitudinal movement toward and away from the upper open end of said casing. The carrier33 has'a transverse member '28 at the base of the cup portion which is adapted to be engaged by the cosmetic stick and which also serves as one anchor for'an expansion coil-spring 31 secured thereto. The pin 23 to which the finger piece 2| is secured at 2341' and which extends through slot l'l inthe casing l I, is offset as shown to extend at 2%- also through the slot 23 in the tubular member 22' and is secured to the carrier 30 at its lower end. Manualmovement of the finger piece 21 longitudinally of the casing l l, toward or away from the upper open end, will impart a similarlongitudinal movement tothe material carrier and will cause the cosmetic stick to be projectedfrom the container or to be retracted therewithin.

At its upper end the tubular member. 22 is provided with a pair of diametrically arranged pivoting studs 32, 33, upon which ispivotally mounted a dome-shaped cover 35 disposed within the casing ll, adjacent to its open upper end, which serves to close the opening :definedby the annular flange IS. The pivoting studs 32, 33 are located at diametrical, opposite .pointslspaced below the open end of the casing a distance which is less than half the internaldiameterj of the casing. The cover preferably comprisestwo individual pivoted spherical sectors or.v segments having edges adapted for'abutment and formed integrally with depending arms3'l, 3B, for engagement with the stud 32. Arm .3lonsegment 35a and arm 38 on segmentf35'b are pivoted on stud 32, and each said arm is providedwith an integral extension 33 constituting a crank or rocker to which a vertically movable link 40, 4l-is -pivotally connected by pins/42. Links 43,41 form part of the cover operating mechanism. Link 40 is mounted on thetubular member 22 for limited longitudinal and lateral movement, being provided at itslower end withan inwardly directed flange 43 which engages in an elongated guide 'slot 44 in the lower, end of the tubular member 22, said guide slot '44 being disposed at an inclined angle to the. base ofthe container whereby the lower end 43 of the link,4D; will-be guided upwardly and laterally as the link is moved longitudinally of the container toward its open end. Flange 43 "extends "into the tube 22 and is also flared to retain the link 40 within the slot 44. The shorter link 41 "isjpivotally con nected at its lower end to a pin 43 on link 40 and is movable therewith. As best seen-in Fig. 3, when the links 40, 4| are moved longitudinally of'the casingto the upper limit of guide slot 44,

the extensionsor cranks 39 on arms 31, 38 will turn the cover segments about the pivoting studs and will move the cover segments to the opened position shown in phantom. In order to assure complete opening of the cover, links 40,. preferably should have sufficient longitudinal movement to cause the pins 42 to be moved beyond the pivoting stud 32, as shown in Fig. 3, so that when fully opened the cover arms 31, 38 form an angle larger than 180.

As best seen in Figs. 9 to 11, inclusive, arms 31, 38' on the opposite side of the cover. segments are provided with elongated radial slots 59 which engage over stud 33 and provide for both pivotal movement and lateral displacement of the cover segments during opening and closing thereof. As shown in Fig. 9, when the cover segments are in fully closed position, the stud 33 engagesthe slots 50 adjacent their innermost ends; when the cover segments are in half opened position (Fig. 10) the stud 33 engages the slotsv at an intermediate portion; and when the cover segments are fully opened (as shown in Fig- 11), the stud 33 engages the slots at their outermost ends. Thus the efiective radii of the cover segments increase progressively as they are turned from fully closed to fully opened position; and conversely, the effective radii decrease as the cover segments are turned from fully opened to fully closed position. I have thus provided a container for cosmetics and the like having a pivoted cover conveniently housed therein, which is adapted to be moved to fully open position to expose the contents of the container without providing an enlarged head for such container-this preferably being accomplished by providing for both pivotal movement of the cover and lateral displacement thereof relative to the casing during such opening and closing movements.

In order to assure complete and proper closure of the cover segments and to prevent one segment from being moved too far and from overlying the other in fully closed position, the arms on segment 35a preferably flank or overlie the arms on segment 351) at the pivoting studs 32, 33 and the abutting edge 5| of the latter segment 351) preferably overlies and engages a lip on the abutting edge 52 of the first mentioned segment 35a whenthe cover segments are in juxtaposition. Thus, one segment overlies the second at the pivoting studs, and the second overlies the first at the top of the dome, which assures proper abutting relation.

The material carrier 30 is also formed with two skirt portions 55, 56 which depend from the cosmetic cup, and the lower end of skirt 55 is provided with an inwardly directed flange 57. The lower lateral edge of link 40, inwardly of its end, is provided with a lateral projection 60. When the cover segments are closed and the link is at the bottom of the inclined guide slot 44; the projection 60 extends into the slot 29 over the path of the carrier pin 20 and is adapted to be engaged by portion 20! thereof and to be given a limited longitudinal and lateral movement along guide slot 44 as the carrier is advanced along the longitudinal slot I! in the casing. When the link 40 reaches the top of the guide slot 44, the projection 69 will have been moved out of the path of the pin 20, as shown in phantom in Fig. 3, and the carrier will continue its advance toward the open end of the casing.. As before stated, when the link 40 reaches the top of the guide slot 44 the cover segments 6 will have been moved to fully opened position and the material'in the carrier fully exposed for. projection from the container. Uponretraction of the carrier within the casing the flange 51 on the lower end of skirt 55 will engage flange 43 at the lower end of link 40 toward the end of the re' traction stroke and will mov link 40 downwardly along the guide slot 44 during the final retraction movement of the carrier, which will operate automatically to close the cover segments.

The lower end of tubular member 22 has two diametrically opposed notches 10 which serve as seats for a bridge member H to which the lower end of expansion coil-spring 3| is secured. When the parts are assembled the coil-spring preferably is given an initial lateral tension by giving the bridge member a one-half revolution before being positioned within the notches 10 for the purpose of resiliently urging the carrier pin 20 laterally in slots l7 and 29 and portion 20b thereof into engagement with lateral edge 12 of slot 29. As before stated, the upper end of coil-spring 3| is attached to the transverse member 28 at the base of the cosmetic cup which is longitudinally movable with the carrier. The coil-spring expands with advancement of the carrier toward the upper end of the casing and yieldably resists such movement with progressively increasing tension. In Fig. 5 the carrier is shown at its uppermost or furthest advanced position, and the coil-spring 3| is shown fully expanded. The lateral edge 12 of slot 29 in the tubular member 22 has been provided with a plurality of ratchet teeth l4 engageable by portion 20b of carrier pin 20 which preferably acts as a pawl-the ratchet teeth being designed to permit advancement of the carrier toward the open end of the casing but to resist retraction thereof. The carrier pin is resiliently urged against the ratchet teeth 14 by the lateral tension imparted to coil-spring 3| initially.

As before stated, a longitudinal rib 25 has been provided on tubular member 22 along the other lateral edge of slot 29-the rib 25 serving to close most of the slot l! in the outer casing. Laterally of the rib '25 is a second longitudinal rib 89 provided with a cam edge 8| for engagement by a resilient follower 82 extending inwardly from the finger piece 2|. During advancement of the carrier as toward the upper open end of the easing, the follower'82 rides along a shoulder 83 on the rib 25 and the carrier pin 25 engages successive ratchet teeth 74 (see Fig. 12). When it is desired to retract the carrier in the casing from one of its advanced positions, the finger piece 2| is manually displaced laterally in the slots I! and 29 to disengage the pin 20 from the ratchet 14, and the follower 82 snaps over and engages the cam edge 8| on rib 8e (see Fig. 5). The carrier pin 2% hence is maintained out of engagement with the ratchet teeth while the carrier 38 is automatically moved to fully retracted position within the casing under the action of coil-spring 3|. The cam 8| terminates at 85, as shown in Fig. 5, when the carrier is in fully retracted position, which then restores the carrier to its initial or starting position with the pin 29 reengaging the edge 12 of slot 29.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the container operates as follows: Assuming the starting position shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the carrier is fully retracted, the finger piece is at the lower end of slot ll, the cover segments are fully closed and the carrier pin is in engagement with the edge 72 of slot 29. The finger piece may then bemovedmanually along slot. [land the carrier-andpin similarly. advanced within the container against the progressively increasing resistanceot coil-spring 31, withthe carrier pin engaging successiveratchet teeth M. which hold it in such advanced positions. During the initial advancing movement of the. carrier, the. projection 59 on link-e; isengagedi bythe carrier pin and the li l; til is moved therebyalong guide slot fi i both longitudinally and. laterally until the coversarefully opened and the projection 66 has been moved out of engagement with the carrier pin. As the carrier is further advanced the. cosmetic or other material is projected from the container. In order to retract the cosmetic and carrier into the container, the finger piece is displaced laterally in the slot W, as shown in: Fig. 5, which'disenga-ges the pin- 2%} from the -ratchet teeth it and causesthe follower- 8-2 tosnap over and-engage thecam edge 81 0frib 88; The pin is thus held out of engagement with the teeth Ed-until the-carrier is.iully:retracted-by -the coilspring ti. Just before the end of theretraction stroke; the flange on the base of the carrier engagesthe-flanget?) on thelower endoflink 48 and moves the latter downwardly along the guide andautomatically closes the coversegments 35a, 35b. The follower 82 is also released from the restraining action ofthe cam t l and the carrier-pin reengages against edge E2- of theslot 2.9.

, While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that changesmaybe made-therein without departingirom the-spiritoi theinvention or from thescope of the appended claims What I" claim is:

l. A container for a cosmetic stick or thelike, which comprises a tubular casing having an internal, transverse, cross-sectional; area only slightly larger than the transverse cross-sectional area of a cosmeticstiok to be contained therein, said casing having an opening at one end through which the cosmetic stick can be projected, a cover substantially U-shape incross-section within the casing, with at least one arm of the U-shaped cover having a slot therein within which a pivot pin extends to affordv the arm having the slot therein a lateral displacement in addition to a pivotal rotation for covering and uncovering said opening, said pivot pin being positioned in the upper portion of said slot when said cover is in the closed position and cover-operating means within the casing and movable from the exterior thereof for rocking said cover, and constraining said cover during its opening, movement to be displaced laterally outwardly relative to the axis of the, casing an amount greater than the lateral displacement of the cover were it to pivot about a fixedaxis of rotation.

2. A container. according to claim 1, wherein the tubular casing is cylindrical, and, each arm of. the U-shaped. cover, is pivotally mounted. on a common axis.

3.,Avcontainer according to claim 1, wherein the pivot for said cover is located ata perpendicular distance below the top of the cover when closed, which distance is lessthan half the maximum internal cross-sectional dimension of the casing measured at right angles to the pivot, and the cover during its opening movement is displaced laterally relative to the axis of the casing an amount greater than the distance between the pivot and said open'end of the casing.

4. A container'accordingto'claim 3-, wherein the tubular casing is cylindrical.

8 A container according to claim 3, wherein the tubular.- casi'ngis cylindrical and the pivot is; disposed along a radius oi'the casing.

6.; A container according to claim 3,v wherein the. cover comprises, an armextending inwardly from the. open end ofthe casing, the cover operating means. comprises a member connected to said arm inwardly of the pivot, and means for moving said memb'ertoward and away from-said open end of the casing to rock. said cover to open and close. the same.

7; A container according to claimB', wherein each arm of the U-shaped cover isv pivotally mounted: on a commonaxis, onearm of the cover providing-atrue. pivotal connection and the other arm or the cover having the elongated slot therein.

8. A-container according to claim 3, wherein a carrierf-or a cosmetic stick islongitudinally movable within theflcasing toward and. away from saidopen end thereof, and the cover operating means-is 'engageable by and. longitudinally movable with the carrier.

9. A container according to claim: 3,.wherein a similarly shaped tubular member of butlslightly smaller size than the casing is coaxially fixed within the casing and has an open end spaced axially inwardly from said open end of the casing, and the cover ismounted for movement between the-open ends and walls of said tubular member said casing.

16; A container according to-claim 3, wherein a similarly shaped tubular member of butslightly smaller than the casing is coaxiall fixed within the casing and has an. open end spaced axially inwardly from said' open-end of the casing, the-cover is mounted for movement between the open end and wall of said tubular member and saidcasing, a longitudinally movable carrier is mounted within said tubular member, saidtubularmember is formed with guiding means, one armot the cover comprises an extension projecting' inwardly from said arm, the cover operating means comprises a link connected at one end to the extension on thearm on the cover-and at'its other end having apart mountedfor movement along the guiding means on the tubular member, means-for moving saidcarrier toward and away from said open endor" the casing, said carrier imparting-limited longitudinal movement to said link alongsaid guiding means simultaneously with, advancement or retraction of said carrier whereby said link willoperate said cover to open and close the same;

11. A container for acosmetic stick or the like, which comprises a tubular casing open at one end; a cover rockingly mounted within said casing for covering and uncovering said open end, a pivotfor said cover locatedata distance'below the-"open end of-thecasing less than halfthe maximum internal cross-sectional dimension of the, casing, and" cover operating'm'eans' for simultaneously pivoting; said cover and displacing it laterally relative. to .theiaxis offthe' casing an amount greater than the. .distancebetween the pivotjandsai'd'open end of'theicasing, the cover comprising a pair. of U.-shaped. closure plates, each having opposed arms on opposite sides thereof, the armsson each side'ofitheplates being pivotally'connecteditogetheron a common axis, an extension oneach arm-ofeach-closure plate, the" arms-on one sideof the cover'plates' each having an elongated slot therein withinwhich a pivot pin extends,- the cover operating means comprising a'member connected to-each of the 9 other arms on the cover plate inwardly of the pivoted connection therebetween, and means for moving said member toward and away from said open end of the casing to pivot and rock said cover plates to open and close the cover.

HERBERT A. COE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 131,748 Fowler -4 Oct. 1, 1872 1,515,989 Banes Nov. 18, 1924 1,917,063 Rollason July 4, 1933 Number 10 Number 

